Loose Cable Ascent

Morning called for descending from the balcony railing back down to ground operations. Jumping the metal drop was out, but an outdoor string light cable hung loose against the wall. I caught the rubber cord with both hands, hooked my boots around the braided wire, and rappelled cleanly down to the planter ledge below. Right in front of me sat a low terracotta tray filled with dense gravel and hardy green succulents. I dug my boots into the packed stone pebbles to test traction. Ground base re-established.